Window for pressurized chambers



July 15, 1952 A. GOUGE 2,602,970

WINDOW FOR PRESSURIZED CHAMBERS Filed Oct. 11, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l E G U 0 G A WINDOW FOR PRESSURIZED CHAMBERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 5 9 1 L l L m Juiy 15, 1952 A. GOUGE WINDOW FOR PRESSURIZED CHAMBERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 11 1950 Patented July 15,1952

Application October 11, 1950, Serial No. 189,540 In Great Britain October I3, 1949 It has hitherto been the practiceto use rela- '5 tively flat panels of transparentmaterialfshaped "to the form of the body'of the cabin, as the portlights or windows in pressurisedchambers such as aircraft cabins. These 'portlights'are often made of plastic materialjfor"example thematerial sold under the British 'RegisteredTradeMa'rk constituting each" portlight' 'must be thick. 'Such 6 Claims. (01. 20-565) Three forms of "portlight' according to the invention fora pressurised aircraft cabin will-flow be described'in detail, by way-of example, with reference to "the -aecompanying drawings, ---'in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation' of-t-he firstformofpo-rb light, seen from the inside,

Perspex and as they have to withstand a'large 1 pressure difference at ,high altitudes, the "panel panels are supported at their edges by the wall of the cabin and ereueme to'fatigue *as'the' result of repeated flexureunderth'e diflerentialipressure acting on'them under diiierent' flying conditions. They are, moreover, subject at altitude to; alarge temperature gradient and, being thick'and of p'oor thermal conductivity, may shear under this temperature gradient.

Failure of a portlight at altitude; by shearing 'or as the result of fatigue, may have serious effects on the occupants of the cabin. This invention has for its object to provide a portlight which will safeguard against the possibility of failure.

The invention provides, in a pressurised aircraft cabin, a portlight comprising an outer transparent panel flush with, and forming at altitude an airtight joint with, the outer skin of the aircraft, and an inner transparent panel normallyheld spaced from the outer panel by means which, in the event 'of failure of "the outerpanel at altitude, will yield to allow of outward move-' ment of the inner panel, under the excess pressure within the cabin, into position to seal wholly or partially the resultant leak in the cabin.

Under normal conditions, a flow of warm air may be circulated through the gap between the two panels, thereby maintaining the outer panel warm and reducing the tendency of mist to form on the portlight. If, however, the outer panel fails, the inner panel will be forced outwards into contact with it, the rim of the inner panel-seating against the rim of the window opening.

The inner panel may consist of a sheet of transparent material, e. g. Perspex, sufficiently thick for it to withstand the pressure differential if called upon to do so, and is preferably of part spherical shape and inwardly convex. We may, however, use a thinner sheet of transparent material, unable of itself to withstand the pressure differential and reinforce it with a metal grid or lattice either abutting against its outer surface or embedded in it. The metal grid or lattice may consist of metal wire, strip or perforated sheet and will afford support to the transparent material while allowing the passengers to see out through its interstices.

Fig. 2 is a section, on-an enlarged scale, on-the line 11-11 in Fig. 1, 4 v

Fig. 3 is a detail view looking in-the direction of the arrow in-Fi'gJZ.

Fig; 4 is a section through the second form or portlightand Fig. 5 is asection through the third form of portlight.

The construction shown in-F'igs. 1-13 willbefir'st described. 1

The'skin "I 9 of the aircraft-cabin is for-med wi-th a circular aperture l 'l'i-n whic'h isfitted an outer panel 12 of Perspex-or other transparent material. The panel'is'held in positionby a support- "ing structure, consisting erthree-rings lf3,"-I 4,- l5

secured together by'bolts lfi, 26 and sealing rings 1, 1 B oi rubber-or like material arefi tted "t the rim of the panel l l-on its -outerand-innerrespeetively. Unde'r 1 the -excess pressure which prevails within the cabin at altitudethe ring ll formsa seal against 'the ring 3 f and thearing l-5 is held in sealing engagement with the. ring 18. The rubber ringslland 1 8 mayailso seal the window opening under ground level conditipns, but this is not essential provided that the seal is maintained at altitude.

Inside the panel [2 is provided an emergency inner panel I9 of Perspex or other transparent material which is relied upon to seal the window opening in case the outer panel [2 should fail at altitude.

The inner panel [9 is of inwardly convex part spherical form and is mounted in a circumferential metal ring 20 carrying on its outer face a sealing ring 2| of rubber or the like. The ring 20 carries three inwardly projecting brackets 22 which are free to slide on the bolts 26 and are normally held, by springs 23 surrounding the bolts 26, in the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the inner panel I9 is spaced inwardly from the outer panel, leaving a space for circulation of warm air between the panels I2, I 9.

The bolts 26 and springs 23 constitute spring pillars which will collapse, if the outer panel l2 fails at altitude, to allow the pressure within the cabin to force the inner panel l9 outwards into a position in which the rubber ring 2| forms a seal against the ring I5 to prevent the escape of air through the window opening.

fatal results to the passengers.

Any other form "ofcollapsible support. may be used for the inner panel IS in place of the spring pillars. Thus, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I may use in place of them U-section metal brackets 21, which will collapse, when the outer panel l2 fails. to allow the inner panel IE to move outwardly to form the seal.

As above noted, the inner panel l9 may, if desired, be reinforced by a metal grid or lattice abutting against its outer surface or embedded in it.

In Fig. 4 the inner panel H, which is thinner than that shown in Figs. 1-3, is shown abutting against anexternal metal grid 28. In Fig. 5, the thin inner panel i9 is reinforced by an internal metal lattice 29 embedded in it.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Fatent is: I

1. In a pressurised aircraft cabin having an outer. skin, the eombinationof a transparent window in said skin, sealing means for preventing an inner panel, and collapsible means between the peripheries of said window and said inner panel for normally holding said inner panel spaced fromsaid window, said collapsible means yielding, in the event of failure of said window,

outer skin, the combination of a transparent 1 window in said skin, sealing means for preventing leakage of air from the cabin around said window, an inner panel, and collapsible spring 3. In a pressurised aircraft cabin having an outer skin, the combination of a transparent window in said skin, sealing means for preventing leakage of air from the cabin around said window, a transparent part spherical and inwardly convex inner panel, and collapsible means between the peripheries of said window and said inner panel fornormally holding said inner panel spaced from said window, said collapsible means yielding, in the event of failure of said window, to permit of outward movement of said inner panel, by the excess pressure within the cabin,

- to position to seal partially at least the leak leakage of air from the cabin around said Window,

pillars for normally maintainingsaid inner panel spaced from said window, said pillars yielding, in the event of failure of said window, to permit of outward movement of said inner panel, by the excess pressure within the cabin, to position to seal partially at least the leak through said failed window.

through said failed window.

4. In a pressurised aircraft cabin having an outer skin formed with a window opening, the combination of a transparent outer panel flush with the skin and fitted in the window opening to seal the same, a transparent inner panel having a sealing ring on its outer face extending around its periphery, and collapsible means between the peripheries of said outer and inner panels for normally holding said inner panel spaced from said outer panel, said collapsible means yielding, in the event of failure of said outer panel, to permit said inner panel to be forced outwards by the excess pressure within the cabin to bring said sealing ring into sealing engagement with the rim of the window opening.

5. In a pressurisedaircraft cabin, a combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner panel is of transparent material, and comprising a metal grid abutting against the outer surface of said inner panel.

6. In a pressurised aircraft cabin, a combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner panel is of transparent material, and comprising a metal reinforcing lattice embedded within said inner panel.

1 ARTHUR GOUGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,269,488 Schwartz Jan. 13, 1942 2,409,808 Sowle Oct. 22, 1946 

